Sensors Expo 2015: MEMSIC brings MEMS sensors to UAVs, agriculture, more in INU/INS dev platforms

By Brandon Lewis

Editor-in-Chief

Embedded Computing Design

June 23, 2015

Sensors Expo 2015: MEMSIC brings MEMS sensors to UAVs, agriculture, more in INU/INS dev platforms

Another MEMS-focused sensor shop, the aptly named MEMSIC focuses on flow sensors and inertial measurement units (IMUs). Like so many IC designers thes...

Another MEMS-focused sensor shop, the aptly named MEMSIC focuses on flow sensors and inertial measurement units (IMUs). Like so many IC designers these days, MEMSIC works to provide developers with built-in algorithms, calibration features, and development tools that help speed time to market, as you can find in their INS380ZA EVALKIT intertial measurement system (IMS) pictured below.

[Figure 1 | The INS380ZA EVALKIT is one of several development environments available from MEMSIC for those that require inertial measurement sensing in applications ranging from precision agriculture to construction to avionics.]

Founded in 1999 out of ADI, the company specializes in flow sensors with no moving parts to help with ruggedness and accuracy and eliminate the need for continuous calibration. Like other vendors at the show, MEMSIC was promoting solutions in the agriculture space, but their expertise in IMU/IMS units gives them the unique distinction of being able to deploy in manned/unmanned aircraft for crop monitoring and surveillance. For example, the INS380SA-200 includes a 48-channel GPS receiver and a 9 DOF MEMS sensor suite with fusion software in this 17-gram nugget.

[Figure 2 | The INS380SA-200 and it’s bigger brother the INS380SA-400 are small form factor inertial navigation systems (INS) that integrate 48-channel GPS receivers in fully calibrated standalone modules.]

Expect more from MEMSIC in the coming weeks and months, which is all I can say. Just keep your ear to the street … or maybe the sky, as it were.

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Brandon Lewis, Technology Editor

Brandon is responsible for guiding content strategy, editorial direction, and community engagement across the Embedded Computing Design ecosystem. A 10-year veteran of the electronics media industry, he enjoys covering topics ranging from development kits to cybersecurity and tech business models. Brandon received a BA in English Literature from Arizona State University, where he graduated cum laude. He can be reached at [email protected].

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